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Hey! You! I have a NEW list of best Mac OS X Software for 2010 coming up within a few days. BOOKMARK this page! CMD-D or CTRL-D will do that for you The post should be up this weekend!

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Recently I had a discussion with a friend about the best Mac OS X Leopard software. He told me that it was pretty hard to find a solid list of good, Mac OS X Leopard applications and software on the Internet. Turns out, he’s right. Google searches for “best”, “cool”, or “free” Mac OS X software didn’t turn up a whole lot of good information. So, with this in mind, I decided to create my own list of Software I use. I hope this list finds whoever needs it!

iWork 2009 (visit site)

As far as word processing, presentation, and spreadsheet productivity software goes, nothing beats Apple’s own iWork productivity suite. Although I like Microsoft Word on a PC, Microsoft Office does not run smoothly on a Mac and I see no point in paying $150 for MS software for a Mac. Other free choices are NeoOffice and OpenOffice. However, at only $79 (compared to MS Office at $150), iWork 2009 is a steal. Not only is it the best productivity suite, it offers the most features, uses the least system RAM, and can save files in a wide range of Mac and PC formats.

Safari 4 (visit site)

Technically, the latest version of Safari is in “beta”, or testing, mode. However, the browser is rock solid, coming in as the fastest browsers in javascript rendering. Of course, that means it’s the fastest browser all-around. All Macs have Safari on them, but upgrading to this gem is a good idea.

Firefox 3 (visit site)

Having a second browser is always a great idea, and Firefox is perfect for just that. In fact, many of you may wish to use Firefox as your default browser due to all of it’s extensions, themes, and options. Very fast, and only second to Safari 4 Beta (above).

Tweetdeck (visit site)

If you use Twitter, then you’ll love Tweetdeck. This program is based off of Adobe Air, so you know it’s lightning fast. The great thing about Tweetdeck, and the reason I use it, is that it can be as simple or as involved as you need it to be. Opening “columns” of different tweets (general tweets, replies, direct messages, user profiles, etc) is easy and the organization level is superb.

Adium (visit site)

Adium is a multi-service chat program allowing you to connect to various services, from AIM, Facbook and MobileMe to MSN, Yahoo and Google Talk. I highly suggest this IM client. It’s just as good as iChat, and allows you to do so much more. Extremely skinable and extensible.

Anxiety (visit site)

Anxiety is an extremely light weigh to-do app that resides in either the dock, menu bar, or both. I have the icon in the dock set to hide, so it does not take up space, and have a tiny menu bar item that I click when I want to access my list. Simply click it again and it fades away until you need it again. Perfect tool for setting to-dos. Anxiety integrates into iCal (lists are organized by your separate calendars), therefor it will sync with MobileMe. Perfect app.

WeatherBug LITE (visit site)

Unlike WeatherBug for Windows, this app is very light and takes up almost no system resources. WeatherBug Lite simply displays the current temperature in whichever zip code you specify, flashes when a warning is issued, and makes extended forecast available by simply clicking the temperature. I highly recommend this for a light weight weather app in your Mac OS X menu bar.

AppFresh (visit site)

App Fresh does an amazing job at keeping applications on your Mac up to date. Sure, the Apple Software Update is great for your operating system and Apple software, but AppFresh takes care of updating the rest of your applications. Keeping apps up to date is essential to keeping your Mac running fast.

CyberDuck (visit site)

Hands down, the best FTP application for Mac OS X. If you’re looking for a FTP program then be sure to try CyberDuck. For web developers and others who need FTP, this alone can be reason enough to get a Mac over a Windows computer any day.

Smultron (visit site)

Smultron is an excellent, easy, and lightweight html, css, js, php, and xml editor. It’s not too hard to use, has easy-to-see color coding of variables, and is free, just like most everything on this list.

Handbrake (visit site)

This application makes it super easy to rip DVDs and covert them to MPEG-4. The only ripper I use.

Monolingual (visit site)

Monolingual is an application much like Xslimmer, yet ten times as good. It cleans up and deletes languages from Mac OS X itself as well as applications you have installed that you do not use. For instance, I speak English and will only use the English language on my Mac. Therefore, I can delete the 20-25 other languages on my Mac that I do not use. Deleting these languages save me a whopping 4 GBs. In addition to languages, Monolingual deletes other input device layouts for other languages, such as keyboard settings for French, Italian, etc. If that were not enough, Monolingual deletes architectures that you do not have installed on your computer. In other words, since I do not have a “PowerPC” Mac from years ago, I do not need that architecture, or software. Deleting architectures along saved me 2.5 GBs. That’s close 7 GBs saved when I factor in the languages, input device layouts, and architectures deleted that I do not need.

ONYX (visit site)

Although a Mac rarely needs any sort of optimization or cleanup, for those times it does, Onyx is perfect. Onyx cleans up anything you need it to: cookies, fonts, temp files, etc. In addition to running scripts and repairing disk permissions, Onyx does much more. I highly suggest it. Beware of other optimization tools, they are usually a waste of time.

Transmission (visit site)

Look no further; Transmission is the perfect BitTorrent client. Fast, simple, and lightweight. What more can you ask for?

Senuti (visit site)

Simple, cheap ($18) and lightweight. A great app to easily get your music form your ipod to your Mac. Worth it’s “weight” in gold.

Well that pretty much wraps up my list of must-have software. I’ll be adding to this list as time goes on, denoting each new app with a special “new” sticker. I hope this list helped you!

Things (visit site)

Things is an amazing GTD (getting things done; productivity) application. I find myself using it day after day for my task. If there is one piece of software that I use the most, it is absolutely Things. Well worth the price!

The Hit List (visit site)

As impressive as Things (above) is, The Hit list is an equally amazing application. I find myself using both; Things for short term tasks and The Hit List for long term tasks and assignments. Give it a try!

Evernote (visit site)

Need a note taking application? Evernote is the best way to take notes, period.

Checkout (visit site)

Checkout is a powerful, easy to use point of sale system for the Mac. You can use Checkout to take orders, make sales, print invoices and accept payments.

Versions (visit site)

Versions is a subversion application that makes it uber easy to track changes to files, especially in a teamwork environment.

Billings (visit site)

Billings is an application for the mac which allows “professional time billing for anyone.”

Pixelmator (visit site)

Pixelmator is a beautifully designed, easy-to-use, fast and powerful image editor for Mac OS X which claims to have everything you need to create, edit and enhance your images.

Delicious Library (visit site)

The Delicious Library Application allows you to catalog your books, movies, music, software, toys, tools, electronics, & video games.

Little Snapper (visit site)

Little Snapper is a great capture and recording software.

Silverback (visit site)

Silverback has “spontaneous, unobtrusive usability testing software for designers and developers.”

Coda All-In-One Web Development (visit site)

The easiest to use web design and development application on the market. Edit html, css, php, javascript, and much more- all in one app. Includes subversion and ftp.

Tweetie For Mac (visit site)

This is currently my favorite Twitter application for mac. Not only is Tweetie different than most other apps, it’s rock solid performance and stylish looks receive five stars from me.

Beak Twitter Client (visit site)

While still in beta, Beak Twitter client for Mac OS X is really catching my eye. Beak has something other Twitter clients do not have: link tracking. When you post a link and use the in-application URL shortening service, you’ll be able to track how many clicks you get. Beak really intrigues me, and I have been using it more often as of late.

1Password (visit site)

1Password can create strong, unique passwords for you, remember them, and restore them, all directly in your web browser.

Last Updated: January 3, 2010